Sterilizer cart

Abstract

A sterilizer cart for transporting a wheeled carriage, the cart having improved control and docking capabilities utilizing a docking post receptacle having a hinged tongue. The front caster wheel assemblies of the cart are provided with spring-loaded guide members which are selectively urged into and out of indentions in detent members for wheel steering. The invention also provides a method for easily directing the wheeled carriage from the cart along rails for convenient carriage insertion into and extraction from a sterilizer equipped matching rails and a centralized docking post.

I claim: 
     
       1. A cart comprising: a frame, a pair of rails mounted on said frame, a movable caster assembly joined to said frame, said caster assembly comprising a substantially linear laterally extending detent member, said detent member comprising a pair of arcuate ends, said arcuate ends extending rearwardly from said detent member, means to guide said caster assembly, a resilient member interconnected between a frame housing and said guide means for applying tension to said guide means, said detent member joined to said caster assembly, said detent member providing for said movement along said guide means, said arcuate ends for terminating movement of said detent member, and said guide means for receiving an increasing force as said arcuate ends of said detent member approach said guide means. 
     
     
       2. A cart as claimed in claim 1 wherein said guide means is cylindrical shaped. 
     
     
       3. A cart as claimed in claim 1 and including a pair of caster assemblies joined to said frame. 
     
     
       4. A cart as claimed in claim 1 wherein said detent member defines an indention for receiving said guide means. 
     
     
       5. A cart as claimed in claim 1 wherein said caster assembly comprises a wheel. 
     
     
       6. A cart as claimed in claim 1 wherein said resilient member comprises a coil spring.